Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Northumbria University’s BSc (Hons) Accounting course is about more than just numbers, it gives you fresh insights and a deeper understanding of financial information. And it’s your starting block for building a rewarding career.
Complementing modules that combine key accounting theory with problem-based learning around real-world scenarios, the course offers an optional, year-long placement between your second and final years. It’s an opportunity well worth taking up to give your CV the edge with valuable experience – whether you're interested in a training contract or role in industry accounting. And depending on the nature of the placement, this may count as the practice element you’ll need for full membership of the highly respected Association of Accounting Technicians.
Student Rated: 100% of students studying Accounting at Northumbria believed that their course was well organised, staff supported their learning, and they had chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth (NSS, 2024).
Academic Support: Accounting at Northumbria is ranked 2nd in the UK for Academic Support (NSS, 2024).
If it is the chartered accountant route that appeals, you’ll need to satisfy the requirements of professional accounting bodies. So we’ve designed our Accounting course with this in mind.
Currently, our BSc (Hons) offers 42 individual exemptions across six of the world’s largest professional bodies. These mean you’ll be able to enter the job market with a good number of your professional qualifications already behind you.
Northumbria University’s Accounting course is covered by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation for Newcastle Business School. According to AACSB, “Approximately 6% of the world's schools offering business degree education have achieved AACSB accreditation, demonstrating a commitment to high-quality, rigorous standards, innovation, and continuous process improvement”. Read more about our 'double' AACSB Accreditation.
This programme is also accredited by all of the following Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs):
See other similar courses you may be interested in: Finance and Investment Management BSc (Hons) or Economics BSc
UCAS Code
N405
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department
Newcastle Business School
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
Highly acclaimed by clients as successful, as students get to the root of the problem, and results in a detailed report and presentation of their recommendations.
The Business Clinic
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The Business Clinic is an education scheme whereby a group of business students participate in a ‘consultancy firm’ to provide advice for our clients.
Newcastle Business School has a global reputation for delivering some of the best business management education in the UK.
If you want to become a future leader or manager in a corporate environment, then you’ll be interested to find out more about Newcastle Business School.
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This course is eligible for a scholarship
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Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Accounting. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Accounting. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Accounting. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
Newcastle Business School delivers first class teaching in a world class environment.
City Campus East
From social spaces, to classrooms, lecture theatres, hub areas and exhibition space, the facilities within Newcastle Business School are exceptional.
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University Library
Business materials are situated on floor 4 of our city campus library which houses over 500,000 books.
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Bloomberg Trading Room
Learn how to use real time and historical financial news and information.
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Digital Commons Library
Open 24/7 during term-time to meet demand for space and support.
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Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Accounting. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
Discover all the research areas our staff and students are involved in.
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Accounting. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
You can boost your CV and develop your experience whilst studying at Northumbria.
From first year through to final year and beyond graduation, we are here to help.
We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.
Careers and Employment Services
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Accounting. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
112 UCAS Tariff points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
Subject Requirements:
There are no specific subject requirements for this course.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths, Statistics, or Physics at minimum grade 6/B and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or equivalents.
Additional Requirements:
There are no additional requirements for this course.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535
* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.
International Fee in Year 1:
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Optional text book costs - Whilst books are available via the University Library, there are various advised/recommended books you may wish to purchase throughout the duration of the course, costs are approximately £1,260.00 (£70 per module, 6 modules per year). Optional educational trip to New York - Whilst students are not expected to attend, the trip is organised with their programme in mind, visiting relevant talks, points of interest. This trip happens annually (students normally attending once) with a cost of approximately £1500.00. In addition optional trip to London approximately £300 per student for predominantly transport related costs.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
AF4030 -
Introduction to Mathematics and Statistics (20 Credits)
This module will introduce you to general mathematical and statistical methods used to analyse and interpret accounting, financial and economic data. The module will address and review essential preliminaries of algebra and mathematical functions, such as linear, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions; expanding on numerical series as well as context- based optimisation problems. These topics will be complemented with a comprehensive review of descriptive statistics and an introduction to the normal distribution function, the process of statistical estimation, and hypothesis testing carried out by means of both parametric and non-parametric tests. Key-topics included in this module:
1. Review of Basic Algebra for accounting, Finance and economics;
2. Introduction to Differentiation;
3. Introduction to Numerical Series;
4. Constrained and Unconstrained Optimisation;
5. The Normal Distribution Function in the financial world;
6. Introduction to Statistical Estimation;
7. Hypotheses Testing of accounting, financial and economic data.
AF4031 -
Accounting, Economics and Finance in a Global Business Environment (20 Credits)
This module will enable you to better understand the economic, institutional, accounting and financial forces influencing the development of markets and exchanges and interactions within the global business environment. This module will introduce you to analytical models and principles that will help you understand and analyse the global environment in which business decisions are made. You will develop an
appreciation for the variety of factors that influence the choices and compromises that are made in international business and the implications of these choices on businesses.
This module will help you to understand and critically evaluate globalisation, its different dimensions and the surrounding theoretical debates. The module will equip you with real-world, problem-solving skills and an understanding of academic theory that underpins professional accounting, finance and economics practice. The module will place emphasis on real-life examples and case studies to position the subjects
within the realm of professional accounting, international finance and economic studies. This will enable you to develop your entrepreneurialmindset by developing your problem solving and analytical skills.
You will study and analyse the business environment at a global level, with a focus on how this impacts the national business environment. On completion of this module you will be able to analyse the consequences of changing regulatory and cultural environments for business within the context of professional accounting, international finance and economics. Throughout the module you will develop a deep understanding of the modern economy and the role that accounting and finance play within organisations.
You will explore basic economic theories around international trade and multinational corporations. You will also gain an understanding of elementary concepts of accounting (internal and external) and auditing and how these support global capital markets. You will also learn about the financial decision-making processes at the company level in the context of the analysis of financial performance measures.
You will use this knowledge to explore the scale, scope and trends in international business activity and evaluate various methods that firms use to assess, enter and develop domestic and non-domestic markets. The module will develop your multicultural awareness and knowledge, to introduce you to fundamental principles for purposive ethical decision making.
Finally, you will explore the wider concept of accountability, for example, sustainability reporting and the “Triple Bottom Line”. You will explore issues of financial literacy and the impact of global poverty, the digital divide and the economic and social consequences of global uneven income distribution.
AF4032 -
Careers in Accounting, Economics and Finance (Core,20 Credits)
This module provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to successfully secure a relevant undergraduate placement and/or a graduate-level role in your chosen discipline of Accounting, Finance and Economics.
You will cover a number of key topics including career planning, writing CVs, cover letters and application forms, psychometric testing, competency-based interviews, assessment centres and current trends in recruitment and selection practice in accounting, finance and economics.
On completion of this module, you will be equipped with the skills and confidence to make an impactful application to any employer.
AF4033 -
Introduction to Financial Accounting (20 Credits)
The aim of this module is to provide you with the skills and knowledge to be able to go into a business and apply various accounting techniques to assist a wide range of stakeholders, making a variety of decisions in relation to a business.
On completion of the module you will be able to use accounting techniques and technologies to design and monitor systems to collect, record and summarise business transactions and interpret results. You will be able to understand the nature and importance of stewardship. You will gain an introduction into the international regulation of accounting and accounting information. As well as being able to consider both the professional and business ethical dimensions of the information you will be providing. In particular you will consider:
• The accounting environment
• The processing of information (including the use of technology tools such as the cloud)
• The accounting system as a control mechanism
• The problems of profit measurement
• The different types of financial reporting
• Interpretation of financial statements and financial information
• Ethical aspects of accounting. Social responsibility and accounting. A wider view of capital and profit.
Completion of this module will ensure you have the required knowledge to progress on to the level 5 module Corporate and Group Accounting.
AF4034 -
Business Law for Accountants (20 Credits)
You will develop a basic understanding of the core legal principles, and key aspects of, business law appropriate to your area of study. In the first part of the module you will be introduced to the legal system and key legal principles. You will learn the importance of primary sources of law – statute and case law. You will then go on to study three subject areas which are important for businesses and business practice:
• Contract Law - including the formation of a legal contract, the differences between terms in a contract, remedies for breach of contract, and the law governing the sale of goods and supply of services;
• Employment Law - including principles of employment contracts, duties of employers and employees, discrimination and dismissal; and
• Tort Law - including principles of negligence, vicarious liability, product liability, occupier’s liability and nuisance.
The second half of the module will build upon these core legal topics focusing on the law regulating businesses and business practice specifically. You will cover nine specific topics:
• Legal forms of business association;
• Formation of a company;
• The role of directors, including appointment, removal, service contracts and legal duties;
• The role of shareholders, including types of shares and ownership and control;
• Company procedure, including the types of resolutions and meeting procedures;
• Equity and debt financing;
• Company accounting requirements and the role of auditors;
• Corporate insolvency; and
• Financial crime, in the form of money laundering and bribery.
Through studying these topics, you will gain an overall understanding of how the UK legal system [or local equivalent] operates and the inter-relationship between statute law and common law.
AF4035 -
Management Accounting and Analytics I (20 Credits)
In this module you will develop a fundamental understanding of the key analytical tools and techniques of management accounting. The module is designed to introduce you to the nature of management accounting and its role is supporting organisational decision making and analytics, considering issues such as big data analytics.
Topics you will cover will include:
• Nature & purpose of Management Accounting
• Cost Classification and Accounting for Materials, Labour and Overheads
• Costing, including Absorption and Marginal Costing
• Cost, Volume Profit Analysis
• Budgeting Techniques
• Standard Costing Systems & Variance Analysis
• Short Term Decision Making
• Introduction to World Class Manufacturing
• Ethics in the context of Management Accounting
Analytics, environmental considerations and ethics in the context of management accounting will be a continued theme in the module, including corporate social responsibility and accounting for sustainability.
On completing the module you will be able to correctly apply management accounting analytical techniques and use appropriate conclusions to support decision making in a business context. The module is an excellent grounding on which to continue your studies of management accounting for example progression to Management Accounting and Analytics II at level 5.
GA4001 -
Academic Language Skills for Newcastle Business School (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
AF5030 -
Financial Markets and Institutions (20 Credits)
You will learn the key aspects of the regulations, ethics and professional body requirements that define the ‘rules’ for the financial sector. You will draw from a range of historical case studies to see how regulation within the financial system has transformed. You will be encouraged to discuss and critique the latest regulation changes using academic literature to back up your arguments. You will explore the main financial instruments that are issued and traded including: money market instruments; bonds; equities; foreign exchange; and Insurance. You will learn about these instruments in the context of risk taking and the worldwide markets in which they are traded as well as the principal institutions that use these instruments. To apply the knowledge acquired in this module, you will be using real-time financial information. Therefore, throughout the module you will be required to keep up to date with the latest developments within the financial markets and sector commercial awareness to enable you to contribute to this module.
More informationAF5031 -
Professional Practice in Accounting, Economics and Finance (Core,20 Credits)
The word professional means slightly different things to different people, however it is commonly used to describe someone who has acquired and uses a high level of technical knowledge and has the ability to judge the manner of how, when and where to use this knowledge. But the business environment has changed dramatically over the last twenty years, increased regulation, globalisation, more complex financial transactions, the opportunities provided by big data and analytics as well as the demand of good corporate governance and improved corporate social responsibility. These changes have meant that the professional can no longer rely on expert knowledge and needs to develop skills and abilities to help them manage the dynamic environment in which they operate.
This innovative module attempts to provide students with a range of skills and practices, taught in the context of the particular functional specialism, which will prepare the student for a range of future opportunities. This module aims to prepare you for your future studies at Level 6 and work-based learning. It focuses on developing your skills and abilities to critically assess, analyse and manage business-based problems and projects, with emphasis on a range of business models.
The module will focus on accounting, finance or economics to support demonstration of understanding and application of relevant theory from your professional/academic area as appropriate. There also will be opportunities to consider broader contemporary challenges for organisations in responding to changing practices of responsible and sustainable management.
On completion of the module you will have enhanced your problem-solving skills and will be able to manage complex projects. By focusing on advanced group and team working skills, research and complex problem solving skills, project management, communication skills, report writing skills and self-directed learning, you will also develop employability and leadership attributes, including set direction, engage, drive, collaborate, learn, innovate and act ethically.
AF5032 -
Corporate Governance and Responsibility (20 Credits)
This module will develop your knowledge of corporate governance and corporate responsibility. You will learn how these two concepts have evolved over the last two decades, highlighting the dynamic relationship between companies and their stakeholders. The module enables you to develop an in-depth understanding of practices and failures of corporate governance and responsibility. Your learning is driven by your engagement with business cases and the theoretical frameworks that underpin our understanding of corporate governance and responsibility.
Throughout the degree you will become knowledgeable about the theory and practice of responsible business and its management, focused on accounting, in an international context. Essentially, you will learn about the role of accountants in ensuring effective corporate governance, including understanding key corporate governance mechanisms such as the board of directors, executives’ remuneration, corporate takeovers, shareholder activism as well as development of corporate governance codes in the UK and internationally. You will also learn about small (SME) and family business corporate governance.
Moreover, within the corporate responsibility part of this module, you examine business’ responsibility towards non-financial stakeholders, by studying approaches to measuring and reporting firms’ corporate social responsibility and performance. In doing so, the background and origins of social and environmental accounting are explored.
At the end of the module, you will become knowledgeable and be able to critically discuss the concepts and topics of corporate responsibility, social and environmental accounting and regulation, as well as business’ responsibility towards sustainability and ethics.
AF5033 -
Corporate and Group Accounting (20 Credits)
This module will enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and builds on your previous financial accounting studies.
You will begin by studying the regulatory and conceptual frameworks, which underpin financial reporting, and you will gain an understanding of how these frameworks inform the standard setting process. You will also gain an awareness of professional and ethical issues surrounding corporate reporting.
The module covers financial reporting for both single entities and groups. You will study the following International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS):
IAS 1 Preparation of financial statements
IAS 2 Inventories
IAS 7 Statement of cash flows
IAS 12 Income taxes
IAS 16 Property, plant and equipment
IAS 28 Investments in associates
IAS 33 Earnings per share
IAS 36 Impairments
IAS 37 Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets
IAS 38 Intangible assets
IFRS 3 Business combinations
IFRS 10 Consolidated financial statements
IFRS 15 Revenue from contracts with customers
IFR6 16 Leases
Finally, you will learn how to analyse and interpret a set of financial statements. Additional standards/topics will be added as and when they are promulgated.
On completion of this module, you will have gained a thorough understanding of financial reporting and will have developed practical accounting and interpretation skills that will be of particular benefit to those looking to pursue a career in accounting. You will also study relevant ethical and social implications of non-compliance with accounting standards.
AF5034 -
Applied Taxation (20 Credits)
The module will introduce you to the subject of taxation. You will learn about the underlying principles and technical areas of taxation as they affect individuals and businesses.
You will study the following five taxes:
• Income tax
Topics include: the tax computation, adjustment to profit, capital allowances, basis of assessment, employment income, treatment of pension contributions, property income, trading losses, and partnerships
• Corporation tax
Topics include: calculation of the corporation tax liability and the treatment of losses
• Value added tax
Topics include: the scope of VAT, registration and deregistration, the tax point, a VAT invoice, output tax and input tax computational issues, types of supplies and VAT schemes
• Capital gains tax
Topics include: calculation of gains and losses, part disposals, chattels and wasting assets, shares and securities, principal private residence and reliefs
• Inheritance tax
Topics include: chargeable lifetime transfers, exempt transfers and potentially exempt transfers, lifetime tax and tax payable upon death
You will also study National Insurance Contribution liabilities for both the self-employed and employees; compliance matters in respect of each of the five taxes above; tax avoidance v tax evasion. Professional ethics and ethical tax behaviour. The moral duty of corporations (and individuals) to pay taxes and societal implications.
AF5035 -
Management Accounting and Analytics II (20 Credits)
On this module you will build on the knowledge you acquired studying Management Accounting and Analytics I and be introduced to more advanced management accounting concepts and analytical techniques that support decision making. The module encompasses the descriptive, diagnostic and predictive analytical role of the management accountant including a look at analytics of big data.
Things that you will cover will include:
• Standard costing and variance analysis: further aspects,
• Activity based costing and management,
• Limiting factor and throughput accounting,
• Issues in Budgeting
• Strategic cost management,
• Pricing decisions and transfer pricing,
• Learning curves,
• Divisional performance measurement
• Ethics and the management accountant
• The impact of big data, analytics and associated technologies
On completing the module you will be able to select and apply appropriate techniques to provide information to aid a business in the decision making process. You will go beyond traditional accounting be able to consider decisions within a strategic, environmental, entrepreneurial and ethical context and be able to make appropriate recommendations to a company which adequately considers the risk profile of that company. Also, you will have developed relevant analytical skills to support the theoretical material introduced throughout this module.
NX9525 -
Newcastle Business School Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)
The Work Placement Year module is a full year 120 credit module available on degree courses which include a work placement year which is taken as an additional year of study between levels 5 and 6. The placement consists of 48 weeks of full time work experience in a host organisation which is relevant to your studies.
The placement is an important element of your course structure and it will provide you with the opportunity to:
• Experience the environment of a real workplace which will help you decide the type of career you would like to follow after graduation
• Develop your organisational and interpersonal skills required to enable you to work efficiently as a member of a team
• Acquire and develop relevant technical skills associated with the nature of your work
• Identify, analyse and discuss with experienced practitioners how theoretical concepts are adapted and applied to suit practical requirements
• Apply knowledge that will help you to plan and evaluate future study and career development.
This is a Pass/Fail module and so does not contribute to your degree classification. When taken and passed, however, the Placement Year is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Work Placement Module and on your degree certificate in the format “Degree title (with Work Placement Year)”. The learning and teaching on your placement will be recorded in the training agreement signed by you, the placement provider, and the University.
NX9526 -
Newcastle Business School Study Abroad Year (Optional,120 Credits)
The Study Abroad Year module is a full year 120 credit module which is available on degree courses which include a study abroad year which is taken as an additional year of study between levels 5 and 6. You will undertake a year abroad at a partner university equivalent to 120 UK credits.
The study abroad placement is an important element of your course structure and gives you access to modules from your discipline taught in a different learning culture and so broadens your overall experience of learning. At the end of the module you will have adapted to and appreciated a different cultural and learning environment and developed ability. You will have developed your interpersonal and intercultural communication skills as a result of your learning in an international environment.
This is a Pass/Fail module and so does not contribute to your degree classification. When taken and passed, however, the Study Abroad Year is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Study Abroad Module and on your degree certificate in the format “Degree title (with Study Abroad Year)”. The learning and teaching on your study abroad placement will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded in the learning agreement signed by you, the host University, and the University.
NX9528 -
Newcastle Business School Blended Placement Year: Work Placement Semester (Optional,60 Credits)
The Work Placement Semester module is a semester long 60 credit module which is available on degree courses which include the option to take a blended placement year of Work and Study Abroad which is taken as an additional year of study between levels 5 and 6.
On this module you will undertake a semester long work placement. The placement consists of a period of full time work experience in a host organisation equivalent to a full semester of study which is relevant to your studies.
The placement is an important element of your course structure and it will provide you with the opportunity to:
• Experience the environment of a real workplace which will help you decide the type of career you would like to follow after graduation
• Develop your organisational and interpersonal skills required to enable you to work efficiently as a member of a team
• Acquire and develop relevant technical skills associated with the nature of your work
• Identify, analyse and discuss with experienced practitioners how theoretical concepts are adapted and applied to suit practical requirements
• Apply knowledge that will help you to plan and evaluate future study and career development.
This is a Pass/Fail module and so does not contribute to your degree classification. When taken and passed, however, the Placement Year is recognised in your transcript as a 60 credit Work Placement Module. The learning and teaching on your placement will be recorded in the training agreement signed by you, the placement provider, and the University. Combining this with the study abroad semester as part of the third year out of the University, this will be recognised on your degree certificate in the format “Degree title (with Study Abroad and Work Placement Year)”.
NX9529 -
Newcastle Business School Blended Placement Year: Study Abroad Semester (Optional,60 Credits)
The Study Abroad Semester module is a semester long 60 credit module which is available on degree courses which include the option to take a blended placement year of Work and Study Abroad which is taken as an additional year of study between levels 5 and 6.
You will undertake a semester abroad at a partner university equivalent to 60 UK credits.
The study abroad placement is an important element of your course structure and gives you access to modules from your discipline taught in a different learning culture and so broadens your overall experience of learning. When taken and passed the study abroad semester will be recognised in your transcript as a 60 credit Study Abroad Module. The learning and teaching on your study abroad placement will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded in the learning agreement signed by you, the host University, and the University. Combining this with the work placement semester as part of the third year out of the University, this will be recognised on your degree certificate in the format “Degree title (with Study Abroad and Work Placement Year)”.
AF6030 -
Sustainable Development and Responsible Business (20 Credits)
This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of key literature, research and economic policy debates in the area of environmental sustainability and responsible business. The objective of the module is to provide students with appropriate tools and technical know-how to critically discuss the trade-offs between economic development and environmental protection and moving capitalism towards a
wider sense of accountability. The module will explore and examine the linkages between economic policies and environmental sustainability, the effects of international trade and globalisation on environmental resources, the role of international environmental agreements and the emergence of new forms of financial reporting centred on the principles of sustainability and social accountability.
Key topics covered in this module include:
• Fundamentals of Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development
• Economic Growth and Environmental Conflicts
• Measuring Sustainable Economic Welfare
• Contingent Valuation and Revealed Preference Methods
• Alternative Concepts of Capital: Environmental Accounting, Integrated Reporting, and the Triple Bottom Line
• International Trade and Environmental Protection
• Stakeholder Activism and Social Responsibility
• Political Ecology: Challenging Narratives of Environmental Degradation
• Financial Reporting and Climate Change.
• The Circular Economy
• The Role of Social and Solidarity Economies
AF6033 -
Assurance (20 Credits)
In this module, you will learn about assurance and the audit profession, through engagement with current academic theory, professional standards and guidance, and ‘real life’ scenarios. Topics are viewed and taught as interrelated concepts. The following topics are covered during the module:
Audit in Context
- What is the role, purpose and value of audit? You will consider the public interest and the role of audit, and the profession, in society, as well as its role in corporate governance - internal audit, external audit and the audit committee.
- What does the audit report say? You will learn about the requirements for audit reporting, how they have changed, and whether audit reports are useful.
- What are the professional and statutory rules governing audit? You will consider the framework of professional standards and legal liability auditors work within.
Audit Ethics
You will consider the IFAC Code of Professional Ethics and what it means for auditors.
- How does the nature of the audit business impact on audit ethics?
- How does audit regulation promote or comprise confidence in audit ethics?
- Why do audit ethics matter?
- Threats to audit independence.
Audit Process
The identification of audit risk from knowledge of the business and the control environment. Planning the audit assignment. Analysis of Business Risk and application to the audit. Assessment of Risk Management and Internal Control. The nature of audit evidence and the methods of collection. The audit of going concern. Formulating and reporting an audit opinion. The idea of professional scepticism.
Current Issues in Auditing
You will learn about recent high profile debates highlighted by the Competition and Markets Authority study into the statutory audit market, the Kingman review of the future of financial reporting, the Brydon review into the quality and effectiveness of audit and the Redmond review into local authority financial reporting and audit. You will consider current issues in the world of auditing and assurance such as:
- the ongoing independence debate
. audit of complex areas such as going concern and accounting estimates
- new developments in auditing standards,
-
- The role of audit in detection and prevention of fraud.
- The sustainability of the audit market
- the assurance of environmental reporting
AF6034 -
Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting (20 Credits)
You will learn to critically appraise, understand and apply a range of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The purpose of this module is for you to learn about a select number of standards in detail. This involves looking beyond the technical computational elements of the standard, instead focusing on areas of the standards that require the judgement of a professional accountant.
The following standards are examples of those that will be covered in the module, however, the syllabus is updated each academic year in line with standard development:
• Conceptual Framework
• IAS 38 - Intangible Assets
• IAS 32 / IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments
• IFRS 10 - Consolidated Financial Statements
• IFRS 13 - Fair Value
• IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers
• IFRS 16 - Leases
• IAS 19 - Post-Employment Benefits
In addition to the accounting standards mentioned above you will learn about some of the contemporary issues in financial reporting, these include:
• Corporate Governance and Compliance
• Integrated Reporting (
• Impression Management and Content Analysis
• Artificial Intelligence and Accounting (including current developments such as Blockchain)
• Climate Related Financial Disclosures (and other current reports commissioned by the Regulator)
You will be assessed by means of an examination and a continuous professional development (CPD) event. The examination will consist of a combination of computational, discursive, case study and essay based questions. The CPD event is a simulated workshop where you will be required to present (in a group) on a contemporary topic in financial reporting. This will involve you carrying out research on a topic and being able to find innovative and interesting ways to disseminate that research to your peers during the workshop.
AF6035 -
Financial Management (20 Credits)
The module aims to explore the role of the financial manager. As an accountant you will need to become involved in the wider running of the business and may be a key member of multi-disciplinary teams. You will benefit from an appreciation of the world of finance and an awareness of how financial decisions are made.
You may decide to pursue a career in financial management and if you decide to go on to study professional accounting qualifications then you will be required to study financial management. Successful completion of this module will enable you to claim exemptions to certain professional examination papers.
This module provides an appreciation of the financial management function and environment in which a financial manager operates. You will understand the relationship between risk and return and appreciate the need for financial managers to engage with some risk in order to generate shareholder value. In this module you will explore frameworks that enable financial managers to take risks in a safer way. With the emphasis predominately on publicly listed companies, you will look in depth at how a financial manager makes investment, financing and dividend decisions in order to maximise shareholder wealth. You will examine both interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk and explore ways that the financial manager can use hedging techniques in order to mitigate these foreign exchange risks. You will learn how small and medium sized enterprises and not for profit organisations have different objectives and how this impacts financial decision making. The module is delivered to you using weekly lectures and seminars.
Within this module, you will cover the following 12 topics:
• Introduction to financial management and the financial environment
• Application of discounting techniques for finance
• Investment Appraisal techniques (incorporating tax and inflation)
• The effects of risk and uncertainty on investment decisions
• Specific investment decisions
• Sources of finance and the weighted average cost of capital
• Capital structure
• Portfolio Theory
• Efficient market hypothesis
• Dividend policy
• Working capital management
• Risk Management
On completing the module, you will be able to select and apply the appropriate financial techniques to support financial appraisal and decision making in a variety of situations. This will help in strategic decision making. You will have developed relevant numerical skills to support the theoretical material introduced throughout the module.
AF6042 -
Dissertation (Optional,40 Credits)
The Dissertation module aims to equip you with the necessary intellectual and practical skills for undertaking an individual student-led, ethical investigation into an accounting, economics or finance (AEF) related problem or issue. In addition, the Dissertation aims to equip you with key transferable, employability skills, time management, project management, communication (written and verbal), negotiation, persuasion and influence, discovery, initiative, creativity and innovation in problem-solving and analysis.
The module is student-led but you are supported by, introductory lectures and workshops as well as guest lectures which introduce undertaking AEF research followed by one-to-one or small-group supervision meetings with an academic from the AEF subject discipline.
The lectures and IT workshops will provide a thorough grounding into undertaking an extended piece of researching, focusing on:
• Refining a research aim/question (focusing and scoping the research) and project proposal
• Developing a literature review
• Researching ethically
• Quantitative research and analysis techniques
• Qualitative research and analysis techniques
Upon completion of the AFM Dissertation module you will be able to:
• Conduct independent and ethical academic research involving the application and critical evaluation of appropriate theories and models.
• Engage critically with relevant literature to establish a framework in which to analyse and synthesise the results of your primary or secondary research.
• Generate / collect relevant primary or secondary data using an appropriate and justified method.
• Analyse your data using an appropriate and justified method of analysis.
• Recognise the ethical implications of your work.
• Critically evaluate the source of your data and the method you adopted.
AF6043 -
Management Enquiry (Optional,40 Credits)
The Management Enquiry module is a student-led individual project that enables you to undertake a significant piece of assessed work commensurate with a capstone module. The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate an authentic engagement with managers and/or professionals from the Accounting, Economics or Finance (AEF) discipline, and to integrate the knowledge you have developed during your programme to explore the theory in practice. The learning on this module is experiential and problem based, where the focus is upon you discovering, probing, and questioning key practice-based issues. Through the module you will be offered the opportunity to develop and enhance key transferable employability skills; time management, project management, communication (written, aural and verbal), negotiation, persuasion and influence, discovery, initiative, problem-solving and analysis.
The module has five thematic areas; explore, review, engage, reflect, and connect. These form the key elements of the assessed submission.
Part A (35%, 3,500 Words)
• Explore: Interviewing a manager and/or professional from the AEF discipline. In this interview you will either explore a key issue which you feel AEF is facing or, alternatively, explore with the manager or professional the key issues that they feel they are facing in practice. It is expected that you will apply appropriate interview methods and provide evidence of the interview within the submitted enquiry report (e.g. within the appendices).
• Review: Critically examining the appropriate literature to support the exploration, displaying an ability to critically assess and appraise the AEF knowledge related to a specific key issue arising from your exploration.
Part B (65%, 6,500 Words)
• Engage: Displaying an authentic engagement with the AEF problem/issue identified in Part A, by collecting/generating and analysing further live data (beyond the initial interview) regarding the AEF problem/issue. This live data may be primary data (e.g. further interviews with, or questionnaire to, managers and/or professionals in practice) or secondary data (e.g. industry data). Application of appropriate, ethically-considered, research methods and appropriate qualitative or quantitative data analysis.
- Reflect and Connect: Demonstrating an ability to critically evaluate and reflect on the issues arising from the Management Enquiry. Demonstrating how you have connected and fed-back to the participants of the Enquiry (usually the manager and/or participants) your key findings to provide clear prioritised, well-justified, practical, and actionable recommendations for change/enhancement/improvement to existing AEF practice to show how the recommendations would potentially affect workplace professional decision making.
NX9626 -
Undergraduate Consultancy Project (Optional,40 Credits)
The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to integrate the knowledge acquired during the programme and apply this to a consultancy project for a real organisation. This consultancy project provides a vehicle for participants to develop and demonstrate key employability skills, to relate theory to practice, and to undertake a significant piece of assessed work commensurate with a capstone module.
You will work on behalf of an external organisation, which has identified a business problem or question, requiring a solution, working in small group of typically 4 individuals (you will select their own team members), participating in group and individual activities. The host organisation will provide a project briefing, and review; students will be supported by appropriate academic input and guidance from Newcastle Business School in the form of a mentor and via the Business Clinic.
To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
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